Jenna Coleman looks very different in devastating new drama The Cry

The latest picture of Jenna Coleman in the highly-anticipated adaptation of Helen FitzGerald's best-selling novel The Cry is here, and the Victoria star looks completely transformed as fraught and bereaved young mother Joanna.

The actress had previously debuted her new-look blonde hair for her role in the four-part psychological drama – set in Glasgow and Melbourne – which chronicles the collapse of a marriage in the aftermath of a tragedy.

BBC/Synchronicity/Lachlan Moore

Joanna's life falls apart when her baby is abducted in a small rural town in Australia, and she and frantic husband Alister (played by Ewan Leslie) struggle to cope as they come under intense public scrutiny while trying to deal with their personal trauma.

The Cry also focuses on the couple's struggle to keep their marriage afloat, and touches on the myths and truths of motherhood.

The series is heading to Sundance streaming service Sundance Now first, before airing on BBC One later this year.

Jenna has previously shared images of herself filming in Australia, including one in character and complete with baby bump on Instagram.

On landing the challenging part, the former Doctor Who star said: "I first read Jacquelin Perske's script on a plane.

"It felt like walking a tightrope, racing page to page, unsettling, unknowable, uncomfortable, and thrilling... I look forward to tackling this challenge and bringing it to the screen."

Creative director of Synchronicity Films Claire Mundell added: "We couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the BBC and the outstanding talent of our writer Jacquelin Perske, to bring Helen FitzGerald's compelling novel The Cry to the small screen in what will be an emotional rollercoaster of a story."

Jenna will also be reprising her role as Queen Victoria for the third series of ITV's Victoria later this year.

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